Intensive Animal Production

This subject is not offered in 2011.

Recommended Background Knowledge:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This course provides those students who wish to specialise in animal science subjects with a detailed understanding of the production systems used in intensive animal agriculture. On completion of this subject, students should be aware of all the significant inputs and products of intensive animal production systems, those factors that determine product quality and the effects of changes in the inputs/outputs on the efficiency of the production system. They should also be aware of the ethical issues associated with intensive animal production systems and the alternative production systems available for pigs and poultry

Topics examined include:

• Size, distribution & value of the pig, poultry & other intensive animal industries.
• Breed selection & genetic improvement in intensive animal production.
• Practical feeding of breeding & growing animals.
• Optimisation of reproductive output.
• Environmental effects & the use of buildings in intensive animal production.
• Management regimes to maintain animal health.
• Maximisation of product output & quality.
• Analysis of production systems & consideration of alternatives.

• On completion of this subject, students should be aware of all the significant inputs and products of intensive animal production systems, those factors that determine product quality and the effects of changes in the inputs/outputs on the efficiency of the production system.
• They should also be aware of the ethical issues associated with intensive animal production systems and the alternative production systems available for pigs and poultry

• A 3 hour end of semester written examination (50%);
• two written assignments (up to 2000 words each) (50%) throughout the semester (weeks 4 and 9)

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Music

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

On completion of the subject the students should have developed the following generic skills: Academic excellence, greater in-depth understanding of scientific disciplines and of the practical and ethical aspects of working in the animal production industry.

The student’s flexibility and level of transferable skills should be enhanced through improved time management and enhanced ability to communicate their ideas effectively in both written and verbal formats